Municipal Codes — Dorchester County
At a Glance
| County | Dorchester County, South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Population | 161,540 |
| Municipalities | 5 |
| South Carolina Statutes | South Carolina Statutes |
Legal Framework
Dorchester County and its municipalities are governed by layered law, from most specific to broadest:
- Municipal ordinances — each town, city, or village within Dorchester County publishes its own code. See the town pages under Dorchester County for municipality-specific codes.
- County ordinances — published by the Dorchester County Board of County Commissioners. Contact the County Clerk for the current code.
- State statutes — South Carolina Statutes (South Carolina)
- Federal code — U.S. Code · Code of Federal Regulations
How to Find a Specific Code
To find the code that applies to a specific address or situation, start with the most specific layer and work outward:
- Check the municipal code for the town, city, or village where the address is located.
- If the address is in an unincorporated area, the county code (Dorchester County ordinances) applies directly.
- State statutes (South Carolina) govern matters not covered by local code.
- Federal code applies everywhere within the United States.
References
- South Carolina Statutes — https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/statmast.php
- U.S. Code — uscode.house.gov
- Code of Federal Regulations — ecfr.gov